Dreamland cash - write to the government!

[EAS]

As Nick has posted on the newspage today, and I am repeating here just in case anyone has missed it:

The latest news from the Save Dreamland Campaign:
Saturday, 23 May 2009

Local paper calls for Dreamland support

The Isle of Thanet Gazette has called on the people of Margate to support the Dreamland Client Group's bids for grant funding to rebuild Dreamland Margate:

Show support for Dreamland funds

The people of Thanet can make a contribution to getting Dreamland back up and running by writing to the government to show support for multi-million pound funding bids.

Dreamland stakeholders have submitted two bids for cash to rejuvenate the fun park.

The Dreamland Client Group, made up of The Dreamland Trust, Margate Renewal Partnership, Thanet council and the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, has submitted an application for £4 million to Sea Change, a government cultural grant scheme. A decision is expected in July.

The Dreamland Trust has also submitted a bid to the National Lottery for £2.6 million. A decision on Lottery funding is expected in September.

If you would like to let the Government know how much Dreamland means to you, write to the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State of Culture, Media & Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.

If you do write, let us know. Email newsdesk@krnmedia.co.uk or call 01843 578150.

[porterm]

Hi EAS et al,

I believe everyone who attended the I Dream of Dreamland event in Margate in March this year, and everyone registered with this campaign should have received personal e-mails containing this information.

The Thanet Gazette article on this appeared to be appealing only to local residents to write/e-mail the Secretary of State for Culture (I suppose this was purely because it was in a local paper). I trust we can all, no matter where we live, partake in this appeal.

I think it is very important to get as many letters (better, and more clouty than e-mails in my opinion) into the above secretary's office, particularly after what I believe was no small task to file for the relevant funding bids necessary to achieve our goals. I am sure that most of us can transfer the passion we hold for Dreamland onto paper - even a short, sharp letter would surely do the trick.

Martin

[EAS]

everyone registered with this campaign should have received personal e-mails containing this information.

Maybe they should, but I didn't... not as far as I can remember... and there are people reading this who may not be registered with the campaign of course.

Where lottery grants are concerned, I do know of successful bids which have been backed by letters of support, from individuals, local businesses and organisations.

Grants are few, applications many, and every little helps.

So yes, get writing everyone! (Apart maybe from me as I am in the middle of a long battle with the above mentioned Department and not sure that I am flavour of the month! )

[smilerbaker]

hang on, isn't "The Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company" a private company, owned in part by mr godden, who shut dreamland down in the first place?

Arn't lottery grants restricted to only charities and the like?

I think your wasting your time asking the gov for money to give to the guy who caused all the problems in the first place.

I cannot see the council, gov or a JG owned company actually doing anything to get Dreamland back up and running in any way shape or form!

[EAS]

Then possibly you should read the Newspage more often, and keep up with what's happening with Dreamland and the Dreamland Trust?

I don't really think Nick and co are so daft as to be spending time on applications if they hadn't done the research, do you?

[EAS]

The Save Dreamland Campaign is now administered by The Dreamland Trust.

The Dreamland Trust has been set up to actively pursue the implementation of a 21st-Century tourist attraction at Dreamland, based around the listed Scenic Railway and Cinema building. Our proposals for the world's first heritage amusement park featuring thrilling rides that will authentically recreate an exciting seaside amusement park from the past, are now progressing with the support of major stakeholders in the town. These include Thanet District Council, Margate Renewal Partnership, Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, Kent County Council, English Heritage, the Arts Council and others. The Dreamland Trust is working with these organisations to bring forward detailed proposals and bidding for grant funding.

Then there's this little organisation, helping out, which I suspect knows a thing ot two about our heritage also:

http://www.princes-regeneration.org/pro ... .php?id=17

Dreamland lies in the centre of Margate and was once the heart of the town's visitor appeal, consisting of a major funfair and pleasure gardens. Dreamland's large listed cinema on Marine Parade is a particularly fine example of an inter-war 'super cinema' and more recently it hosted bingo but has now closed completely. The adjacent amusement park is mostly empty but for the listed Scenic Railway - a type of early roller coaster in which a break man on board controlled the speed of the cars. So, although not as tall as modern roller coasters, the ride was often quite exciting! It is one of only a handful to survive worldwide but, lying unused for several years, the ride suffered fire damage in 2008. Following the fire, an approach was made to The Prince's Regeneration Trust to assist with returning Dreamland to the heart of Margate - this time as a regeneration site.

The total area of the Dreamland site runs to 16 acres and is situated in a commanding position in the town; adjacent to the railway station and parallel to the promenade. Its re-use is therefore crucial to the regeneration of Margate.

The Prince's Regeneration Trust was commissioned jointly by the site owners, acting through The Margate town Centre Regeneration Company and the Margate Renewal Partnership (a public sector consortium), to carry out a Scoping Report. The report was delivered in time for the Margate Renewal Partnership's bid to the Government's Sea Change programme.

Sea Change is aimed at reviving seaside towns whose visitor economy requires reinvention and is sponsored by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS). It highlights the cultural offer of seaside towns and the Dreamland bid was successful in bringing in funding for feasibility work on the site.

[smilerbaker]

The Dreamland Client Group, made up of The Dreamland Trust, Margate Renewal Partnership, Thanet council and the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company

[EAS]

And? That's not news.

[Nick]

The Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company will transfer ownership of 51% of Dreamland to The Dreamland Trust, along with a finanancial contribution to assist in constructing the park. It will therefore not be owned by a private company. Our bids are on the basis of this arrangement, which has the support of all parties. The Sea Change and HLF assessors are aware that this transfer will happen on receipt of the funding, and of course the funding will almost certainly be conditional on this happening.

What I can say is that MTCRC is integral to this process and have been actively participating in bringing forward this project with as much enthusiasm as the other main partners (Margate Renewal Partnership, Thanet District Council and The Dreamland Trust). They attend all the meetings and have put a huge amount of time and effort into the bids that have been submitted. They should certainly not be seen as any sort of obstruction and they bring some excellent skills to the table.

The Trust has also recently added three new trustees with expertise in different areas to the original three trustees. We haven't updated the website yet, but if you read the Sea Change submission document, it has details of all the trustees in there.

[EAS]

It has some good pictures too!

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

This all sounds very positive.
I'm still sitting on my banked miles to make the trip.
Since I was about 10, I've wanted to ride a Scenic Railway and I'll have my day! We all will.

[Nick Evans]

Nick, thank you for clarifying that situation regarding MTCRC and how the structuring will work when and if the grant funding is approved. Most useful.

[porterm]

Hi all - I felt rather bad about trying to gee everyone up to write their letters to the Culture Secretary.

Well, during my lunch hour earlier today I finally drafted my letter on the pc, and promptly mailed it off. I thought I'd share it with others as it looks like we may have a little longer to wait for their final verdict according to the "Latest News" page here. Maybe it might inspire a few more letters. Here goes....

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP

Secretary of State of Culture,

Media & Sport

2-4 Cockspur Street

London

SW1Y 5DH



Dear Sir



Re: The Dreamland Trust Sea Change Funding Bid



I have been an active member of the Save Dreamland Campaign since its inception in January 2003. I wish, on behalf of the Campaign, to support our bid for the above fund to help reopen the former historic Dreamland amusement park in Margate, Kent.



With its Grade II listed wooden Scenic Railway roller coaster, and former Grade I listed cinema complex, I believe its resurgence is pivotal to the local economy, and help return the area to a tourist haven. The area is quite unique in my opinion, compared to many other seaside resorts, and also has the classic Grade I listed Shell Grotto attraction.



The above roller coaster holds many personal memories for me, being the first ever wooden coaster I ever went on as a teenager back in 1977. I strongly feel that our plans to restore the amusement park to its former glory, creating a Heritage Amusement Park would lure many new fans, especially at a time when we have sadly lost a few classic seaside parks in recent years.



Nostalgia appears to be in a renaissance period at present, and I think that the above proposals would be very welcome to rekindle the public’s memories.



I look forward to hearing the outcome of the Sea Change bids with interest, and hope that my comments will further inspire our application.



Yours faithfully,


Martin Porter (Mr)

[EAS]

Great stuff - although Andy Burnham is no longer the Secretary of State. But we have had so many it's hard to keep up...

[porterm]

EAS et al,

Oops..... another casualty from the recent political wranglings I suppose. I guess my letter will be forwarded appropriately.

Martin